Clothes-line reel.



No. 662,222. v Pafentdlov. 20, 1900..

-H. 600K. CLOTHES LINE REEL.

(Applitation filed Aug. 1, 1900.)

(No Model.)

ms Ncmms parzm co. wo'ro-umo WASHINGTON, o, c.

lUNirEn STATES ATENT QFFICE.

HARRY COOK, OF MOKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLOTHES-LINE REEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,222, dated November20, 1900.

Application filed August 1 1900. derial No 25,530. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, HARRY COOK, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at McKeesport, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinClothes-Line Reels,of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inclothes-lineholders or reels, and has for its object to constructadevice in which the clothes-line when not in use will be inclosed withina casing to protect the same from the weather, and the invention aims toprovide novel and effective means whereby this line will beautomatically wound upon a spool or reel within the casing when theouter end of the same has been unfastened; and the invention consists inthe novel means for actuating the spool or reel .for winding the linethereon, together with the inclosing casing and various details enteringinto the invention, as will be hereinafter more specifically described,and then particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and whereinlike numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, in which-- Figure 1 is an end view of my improvedclothes-line holder or reel, showing the same attached in position on asuitable support. Fig. 2 is a front View of the same. Fig. 3 is a rearelevation of the same. Fig. 4 is ahorizontal sectional view showing thedevice secured in position on its support.- Fig. 5 is a horizontalsectional view of a part of the reel, showing the connection of thewinding-spring with its shaft and the case.

To put my invention into practice, I provide a suitable casing 1,preferably composed of a suitable metal, and which is shaped to asubstantially U shapein cross-section or end view. This U -shaped casingis closed at its ends by the end plates 2 2, which are provided withflanges to overlap upon the outer face of the casing 1 at its ends,which flanges are securely riveted or bolted to the casing 1,

as at 3. These end plates are also provided with flanges 4, which areapertured to receive securing means by which the device isattached to abuilding or other support 5, this support serving to close the rear ofthe easing 1. Journaled in the end plates and lying within the casing lis a shaft 6, which has rigidly mounted thereon Within the casing asuitable spool or reel proper, 7, upon which the line 8 is adapted to bewound and to which its inner end is attached. On one of its ends thisshaft 6 is constructed to receive a crank 9 and has mounted thereonbetween the crank and the end plate a ratchet-wheel.

and both secured to the end plate adjacent thereto by bolts 17. Mountedupon the shaft 6, between the plate 12 and the plate 14, is a pinion 18,which meshes with a pinion 19, mounted on a toothed shaft 19, journaledin the plates 12 and 14. This toothed shaft 19 meshes with and drives alarger pinion 20, mounted on a shaft 21, journaled in the plates 12 and14 and in the end plate 2 adjacent thereto. Connected to the portion ofthis shaft 21 that is between the plate 12 and the end plate 2 is oneend of a winding-spring 22, the other end of which is suitablyconnectedto the flange at one end of the plate 12 or at any desiredpoint.

The casing 1 is provided centrally of its front face with an oblong slot23 for the cord or line 8 to operate through in winding or unwinding thesame upon the spool or reel proper, this line carrying on its forwardend a ring 24 or other device of like nature, which forms a catch forthe operator when unwinding the line, and also acts as a'stop to limitthe winding of the line, so as to prevent the free end of the same beingdrawn into the casing.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be clearlyunderstood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, as it. will be observed that the tension of thespring 22 will normally retain the line wound upon its spool, and uponthe disengagement of the pawl 11 from the ratchetthe line 8 may be with.drawn from its casing, winding the spring 22 and increasing the tensionas the line is unwound from the spool, so that when the free end of theline is nnfastened this spring 22 will rewind the line upon its spool.

It will be noted that in the constrnction of such a device variouschanges may be made in the details of construction without departingfrom the general spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In. a device of the character described, the combination with thesubstantially U- shaped casing, and the flanged end plates secured tosaid casing, of a shaft journaled in said end plates, a spool mounted onsaid shaft within the casing, a pair of flanged plates 12, 14, arrangedwithin the casing at one end thereof and secured to one of the endplates, a pinion 18 mounted on the shaft of the spool between the plates12, 14, a toothed shaft journaled in said plates above the pinion 18, apinion 19 mounted on said toothed shaft and in. mesh with the pinion 18,a shaft 21 jonrnaled in one of the end plates and in said plates 12, 14,a pinion mounted on said shaft between the plates 12, 14, and a springmounted between the plate 12 and end plate adjacent thereto, said springhaving one end connected to the shaft 21, and its other end to the plate12, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with thesubstantially U- shaped casing closed atits front and provided with anoblong slot, and the end plates secured to said casing and provided withflanged ends for securing to a suitable support, of a shaft journaled insaid end plates, a ratchet mounted on said shaft, a pivoted pawl forengagement with said ratchet, a spool mounted on said shaft, a pair offlanged plates 12, 1st, mounted in the casing and secured to one of theend plates, a pinion 18 mounted on the shaft of the spool between theplates 12, 14, a toothed shaft journaled in said plates 12, 14, a pinion19 mounted on said toothed shaft, a shaft 21 journaled in one of the endplates and in the plates 12, 14, a pinion 20 mounted on the shaft 21,and a spring arranged be tween the plate 12 and the end plate to whichthe plate 12 is connected with one end attached to the shaft 21 and itsother end connected to the said plate 12, as and for the purposespecified.

In testimony whereof 'I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

HARRY COOK.

Witnesses:

J OHN NOLAND, A. M. WILSON.

